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FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 21, 2006
Hancock
Bank tapped for SBA award
GULFPORT, MS (June 21, 2006) - America's small business champion,
the U.S. Small Business Administration, honored Hancock Bank
with the SBA Mississippi District Outstanding Contribution
to Disaster Recovery Award for the bank's exceptional efforts
to help South Mississippi small businesses recover from the
impact of Hurricane Katrina.
The
recognition was one of nine awards presented by SBA's Mississippi
District during 2006 Small Business Week ceremonies in Biloxi
yesterday.
"Small
businesses represent 99 percent of the nation's employers
and are the backbones of our economy. Hancock Bank was founded
on a commitment to help local families and businesses succeed,
and we are privileged to be able to help small business owners
across the Gulf Coast return to business-as-usual," said
Hancock Bank President and Chief Executive Officer George
A. Schloegel.
Within a month of Katrina, Hancock Bank established Small
Business Development Center loan centers strategically located
throughout the six-county coastal region. Additionally, the
bank - an SBA Express Lender since 2002 - was one of the first
area financial institutions to proactively endorse the SBA
Gulf Opportunity Pilot Loan (GO Loan) Program, a post-storm
initiative designed to streamline, centralize, and expedite
SBA guaranty authorization and loan approval for small businesses
in declared disaster areas. Expanded Saturday banking locations
and hours at area Hancock Bank branches also enabled small
business owners to conduct transactions essential to restoring
business operations.
Mississippi
Gulf Coast native and Chancellor of The University of Mississippi
Dr. Robert Khayat nominated Hancock Bank for the SBA award.
Founded
in 1899, Hancock Bank stands among the strongest, safest financial
institutions in the United States and is the only financial
services company headquartered in the Gulf South to rate among
the top 20 percent of America's top-performing banks. Additional
information about Hancock's comprehensive lines of consumer
and business
banking services is available online.
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FOR
MORE INFORMATION
George A. Schloegel, Chief Executive Officer
Carl J. Chaney, Chief Financial Officer
Paul D. Guichet, VP, Investor Relations
800.522.6542 or 228.214.5242
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